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Building Blocks of Physical Science

The Building Blocks of Physical Science Educator Section includes tools as well as ready-to-use classroom materials. Educators can see how the Next Generation Science Standards align with the Building Blocks of Physical Science books, organized by the grade level(s) they teach. In addition, educators will have access to reading resources such as discussion guides and comprehension checks as well as fun classroom activities! The Educators Section will also include engaging lessons, centered around standards, with built-in differentiation options to support all learners as they continue to explore this content.

Building Blocks of Physical Science Standards Alignment

Use this section to view how the Next Generation Science Standards align to the Building Blocks of Physical Science series.

Next Generation Science Standards

Reading Resources

Each book in the Building Blocks of Physical Science series comes with a Discussion Guide as well as a Comprehension Check! Each Discussion Guide includes 10 questions and is intended to be used during or after reading the text to help students better understand the content. Potential answers are also included. Each Comprehension Check also includes 10 questions and comes with an Answer Key. The Comprehension Check is intended to be used after reading and is a great assessment option.

Classroom Activities

These activities are designed for classroom use and can be used in both the small group and/or whole group setting. These activities bring some fun, engagement, and reflection to students’ learning!

Two Ways to Change Concept Sort

After reviewing concepts related to physical and chemical, students will collaborate to sort real-world scenarios into the two categories. This activity requires students to use higher level thinking skills to apply their knowledge as well as justify their responses. In addition, this activity includes optional differentiational considerations to help support and/or extend your students’ thinking.

Not Just in Lightbulbs

This activity in intended to help students better understand that electricity is a form of energy that can be found in many places, including in nature! Students will collaborate using the Double Pair Share differentiation strategy to explain how electricity is produced by and related to a variety of real-world situations.

The Truth About Magnets

In this activity, students will first evaluate statements about magnetism to determine whether they are true and second will modify and false statements so they are correct. This activity involves both independent thinking as well as opportunities for students to collaborate with their peers to deepen their understanding of magnetism.

Lesson Plans

World Book has created lesson plans that can be used to help deepen students’ understanding of the Building Blocks of the Human Body concepts. These full lesson plans are aligned to standards, include assessment options, describe possible differentiation considerations, and include a variety of ways for students to stay engaged in their learning. Many materials are included as quick and easy downloads for your convenience.

Simple Machines Jigsaw

This cooperative lesson is designed for students in grades 4-6. Students will use the jigsaw strategy to read about the six types of simple machines. Students will become an expert on one type and then share their knowledge with their peers to collect information about all six types of simple machines. Finally, students will use their notes and knowledge to complete a brief assessment about the six types of simple machines that are the bases of all other, more complex machines.

The Truth of the Matter

In this differentiated lesson, students will apply what they know about the different states of matter to demonstrate their understanding of ways in which thermal energy can cause matter to change in real-world situations. Students will use a visual note-taking guide to support a deepened understanding of matter at the particle level.

Force and Motion in the Real-World

This vocabulary-focused lesson is designed for students in grades 3-8 and after reading the Force and Motion book. Here, students will create definitions for vocabulary terms related to the major concepts of force and motion. They will then collaborate with peers revise and edit their writing. Finally, students will demonstrate their understanding by independently applying what they know to a variety of real-world scenarios.